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| some of the protesters |
A SERVING top military official and a police officer were
yesterday unmasked as leaders of the deadly protests in the Epworth dormitory
town, which led to the death of civilians and looting of shops.
This came as more Zanu PF officials were exposed for their
riotous role during the three-day mass stayaway organised by the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions and social movements to protest the sharp fuel price
hikes announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last Saturday.
Lieutenant Morrosi Carnage of Inkomo Mounted Regiment, who
was arrested together with other 60 protesters, appeared before Harare
magistrate Francis Mapfumo yesterday charged with public violence.
While opposing bail, Epworth police officer-in-charge Peter
Mangwende told the court that Carnage was one of the leaders who led the
violent protesters from the front.
Mangwende also told court that a member of the Zimbabwe
Republic Police, Ignatius Zuze, was also shot while leading the protesters.
However, Zuze could not be located at Parirenyatwa Group of
Hospitals, where he was supposed to be under treatment.
Carnage and his 60 alleged accomplices are represented by
members of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights — Kossam Ncube, Marufu
Mandevere and Nontokhozo Dube-Tachiona.
The lawyers took the State to task after prison doctors
failed to treat and examine the suspects, who were severely assaulted by the
police and some had visible injury marks.
Mandevere, however, successfully filed for the accused
persons to be examined by private doctors, saying the court should have granted
the order to have them treated.
“The court cannot just watch. These accused persons were
severely assaulted and some have visible injury marks. The suspects cannot lose
dignity or human rights because of the arrest. This can happen to anyone. The court
needs to maintain the accused person’s rights,” Mandevere said.
The defence applied for bail pending trial, but the State
opposed, saying they must proceed to trial. Mapfumo postponed the matter to today for continuation.
Eight other Zanu PF youth leaders have appeared in court
facing allegations of public violence and looting after they allegedly burnt a
Zupco bus along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway before they looted a shop belonging
to Chegutu East MP Webster Shamu (Zanu PF).
Zanu PF Harare provincial youth league boss Godwin Gomwe
was on Wednesday night also reportedly assaulted by soldiers for leading a
terror group that was attacking suspected MDC supporters in Budiriro as well as
participating in looting under the guise of restoring peace.
Yesterday, a subdued Gomwe had promised to discuss the
issue with NewsDay later in the evening, as he claimed to be with “certain
important people” discussing important matters.
“Can I call you later. I have your mobile number. I am with
important people here, talking something very important. I will call in 30
minutes time,” Gomwe said in a hushed tone.
After 30 minutes, Gomwe was not picking up calls. He also
did not respond to messages sent to his mobile phone.
But Zanu PF insiders said the youth league boss was leading
a gang of 70 youths that went on a rampage in Budiriro and other residential
areas, assaulting known MDC supporters, accusing them of having participated in
the protests before he unleashed his troops to loot some shops.
“He was using a fleet of 20 unmarked vehicles and he
terrorised people, but luck ran out when they were stopped by the military, who
wanted to know what they were doing and who had sanctioned their actions. He
ignored them and went away. But the soldiers followed him to his residence,
where he was assaulted together with members of his gang. He was left at Harare
Central Police Station,” a senior Zanu PF official said.
The ruling party and government have blamed the opposition
Nelson Chamisa-led MDC for orchestrating violence during the three-day national
strike, to force the administration to address the economic decay bedevilling
the country.
During the three-day stayaway, junior military officers,
who were earlier reportedly moving around high-density suburbs beating up
people for participating in the national strike that turned violent, were seen
engaging residents, telling them to exercise their right peacefully.
In Dzivarasekwa and Mabvuku, the soldiers ordered residents
to stay indoors and exercise their right to stay away peacefully by not
barricading roads or attacking each other.
“The suffering you are going through is shared by everyone.
But let us not be violent. Don’t barricade the roads, especially with big
stones and logs, try something which is not violent. Do the stayaway in peace,”
a soldier at Dzivarasekwa 4 said.
“Do whatever you want, we are supporting you, but don’t be
violent. We had to beat you because you were being violent. We don’t want
violence,” the soldier told the residents.
Earlier in the day, the military had subjected most men in
Dzivarasekwa to beatings for allegedly barricading the roads to block traffic
from getting into town or offering transport to anyone who wanted to get into
town.
In Mabvuku, according to residents, soldiers summoned all
men in the neighbourhood after they had clashed with them in the morning for
allegedly blocking traffic.
“They told us that they were not against the idea of the
stayaway or protests, but barricading of roads and destruction of property.
They actually said they sympathised with ordinary citizens,” a resident told
NewsDay.
Contacted for comment, Zimbabwe National Army spokesperson
Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore requested that written questions be brought
to Josiah Magama Tongogara barracks. Newsday
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